Tang Renbie lacked talent but was a master at charming women.
He was good-looking, and well-maintained. Unlike middle-aged men who gained weight as they aged, he went to the gym several times a week, building a physique of well-defined muscles.
Such a mature man, both wealthy and fit, was indeed quite attractive.
Relying on these external advantages, Tang Ren was invincible in the dating scene in City C. He perfectly embodied the classic adage of "keeping the red flag flying high at home while fluttering colorful flags outside."
He knew that a beauty like Su Ying would undoubtedly have many suitors. However, he was quite confident in himself, believing that with his usual tactics, he could surely lure Su Ying in.
Especially since Su Ying had never been in a relationship before, wouldn't it be a piece of cake?
Thinking this, he felt an eagerness to try.
"Brother, take it easy, and don't let sister-in-law find out," Tang Sese, seeing his confidence, couldn't help but caution him.
Tang Ren's wife was a marriage of convenience. Although they had no affection for each other, women's possessiveness could be terrifying. Mrs. Tang was a tigress, skilled at dealing with any vixen. Therefore, although Tang Ren had affairs outside, he always did so behind her back, ensuring these matters never reached his wife's attention.
Another point he handled impeccably was the absence of any illegitimate children.
His precautions were foolproof.
"Don't worry, I know what I'm doing." Tang Ren drained the wine in his glass, a smile of determination on his face.
*
"Boss, there's a Ms. Tang who's come with great admiration and wants to order a custom dress," the assistant reported to Su Ying after receiving the call. Upon learning the caller's identity, she dared not delay and quickly informed Su Ying. "She said the price is negotiable, but she wishes to discuss it with you in person."
Upon hearing this, Su Ying didn't even look up. "I'm busy! Don't you know the orders are booked until the second half of the year?"
Su Ying answered the assistant's question while sketching on paper with a pen.
"Then, should we turn her away?" The assistant was somewhat reluctant.
Her salary was tied to her performance.
She would get a commission for closing a deal. Clearly, Ms. Tang was at least a VIP client, the kind who wasn't short on money. If she could successfully sign the order, her year-end bonus would at least double.
"Ms. Tang is offering quite a generous remuneration."
The pen in Su Ying's hand paused, her tone impatient. "Can't you see I'm busy?"
The assistant's face stiffened, and she lowered her head in a fluster. "I'm sorry, I know what to do."
Su Ying shook her head, suddenly nostalgic for the days when Fu Zheng was by her side.
He never made such mistakes.
Mentioning Fu Zheng, Su Ying's gaze drifted to her phone.
He had taken three days off due to family matters. During these three days, he hadn't messaged or called her. The last message was from her, inquiring about some work-related matters.
Su Ying didn't like him being too clingy, but three days without a single greeting seemed unusual.
Could it be that he had encountered some trouble?
With this thought, Su Ying's normally exceptional focus was broken.
She hesitated for a few seconds, then picked up her phone and dialed Fu Zheng's number. The phone rang for a long time before it was finally answered.
"Who is this?"
It wasn't the voice she was familiar with.
Su Ying swallowed the words she was about to speak. "I'm looking for Fu Zheng."
"He's unavailable to take calls right now. If there's anything, I can relay the message," the voice belonged to a young girl, her tone somewhat sharp, seemingly filled with hostility towards Su Ying.
Su Ying collected herself and said, "It's nothing. I'll call back later."
With that, she hung up.
Over there, Fu Zheng had just returned from the restroom. Seeing that his phone had been moved, he subtly frowned. He detested it when people touched his belongings without his permission.
"Brother A Zheng, your phone rang just now, and I answered it since you weren't back..." The girl stood awkwardly in front of him, seeing his stern expression.
"Hey, what's the big deal? You two grew up together, is it wrong to answer a phone call for him?" Mother Fu glared at her son, forbidding him from looking so displeased.
Although his baby face held no authority, with others at the dining table, such an expression was impolite.
Fu Zheng remained silent out of respect for his mother, but it was clear to everyone that he was distant.
This was a blind date.
His date was the daughter of his mother's classmate, their former neighbor.
Fu Zheng had been tricked into returning by his family, who claimed his grandmother had fallen. In reality, she had merely twisted her ankle while walking and hadn't even gone to the hospital.
Fu Zheng had been raised by his grandparents and had deep affection for them. Upon hearing the news, he immediately took leave and rushed back. Unexpectedly, the signal in the mountains was poor, and his grandparents kept him talking, leaving him no time to check his phone.
When he finally remembered to call Su Ying that evening, her phone was turned off. To ensure adequate sleep, Su Ying turned off her phone every night at ten o'clock, refusing to be disturbed by anyone for any reason.
Su Ying was very busy, and when she was busy, she neglected everything else. Thus, they had had almost no contact for the past two days. Today, having finally returned to the city, he was tricked by his mother into a blind date, something he couldn't easily tell Su Ying about.
He only wished for the dinner to end quickly so he could fly back to City B.
These past few days away from Su Ying had truly felt unaccustomed.
"A Zheng, Mom is talking to you, did you hear me?" Mother Fu chatted enthusiastically with the old neighbor, frequently calling out to her precious son. However, Fu Zheng kept looking down at his phone without a word, which inevitably made Mother Fu feel embarrassed.
Fu Zheng slowly raised his head and calmly said, "I have some matters to attend to at the company. I've finished eating, so I'll take my leave."
"Stop right there!" Mother Fu was even more infuriated by this. "What's so great about your lousy job? Quit immediately! Your father has arranged a position for you at the company, report there tomorrow!"
Fu Zheng frowned, his expression growing increasingly displeased. "I'm doing perfectly fine at my job, and I will not resign!"
"You! Why are you so stubborn! Are we trying to harm you?" Mother Fu, accustomed to being in charge, became angry when her son disobeyed, disregarding the presence of outsiders.
"I said a long time ago that I would support myself." Fu Zheng then picked up his jacket from the back of the chair, preparing to leave.
"A Zheng!" At this moment, Father Fu, who had not intended to intervene, spoke. "Your mother just can't bear to see you suffer out there! Tell me, what can that meager salary of yours do?"
"I'm not young anymore. The company will eventually be passed on to you to manage. While I still have the energy, I can mentor you..." Father Fu appealed to his emotions and reason.
"Moreover, you're not young yourself. You can get married in a few years. Men only grow up after they get married."
Fu Zheng pursed his lips and suddenly said, "I have a girlfriend. When the time is right, I will bring her back for you to meet."
As soon as these words were spoken, the atmosphere in the room abruptly froze.
The girl sitting next to him looked utterly devastated, on the verge of tears.